DBT has initiated several measures to keep our water resources clean and supply clean water to the country.

The department’s support has helped develop green remediation process for textile dyes in wastewaters, developed empowered septic tank as decentralized wastewater treatment system.

DBT in consultation with DDA has identified the Barapullah drain, Sarai Kale Khan, in the state of Delhi as a demonstration site for the interdisciplinary technological solutions for wastewater management.Constructed wetland at HRTS Kagal, Kolhapur, MS, India for soil remediation and lagoon treatment.

With a multipronged approach to ensure supply of clean water from different sources for various uses, the department is on the path to contribute to the country’s clean water mission.

Green remediation treatment process of textile dyes in waste waters developed
A DBT supported project developed phytoremediation treatment process for the degradation of dyes from textile industrial effluent.

Further, on field application of I. aquatica, S. molesta and A. philoxeroides in waste water lagoon systems was successfully carried out. Studies to explore these plants in a constructed wetland system for textile effluent treatment at an industrial scale are underway.

Empowered septic tank as decentralized wastewater treatment system
This project by the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Goa campus, aims to develop a financially affordable and simple-to-operate decentralized wastewater treatment system for a single household as well as for a gated community of 100 people equivalent (25 families) that will produce high quality effluent for safe disposal. The waste treatment system will involve the bio-electrolysis of wastewater to reduce its Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and odor. The project has constructed and is currently testing the decentralized wastewater treatment system for a community of 100 people equivalent and will undertake extensive testing of effluent.

Collaboration with Dutch to help clean Delhi’s Barapullah drain
DBT has collaborated with Dutch to help clean Delhi’s Barapullah drain then finally initiate efforts to keep the Yamuna clean.

In the next five years, a wastewater treatment plant to make the filthy water potable is scheduled to be set up besides removing heavy metals from the water for reuse. Barapullah Nullah is a 12.5 km-long storm water drain responsible for about 30% of pollution in the Yamuna River collecting domestic sewage and polluting waste from small industry from Mehrauli in the south to Sarai Kale Khan in the east.

The project supports high quality research and development programmes aiming at ‘new’ wastewater management to ensure good quality fresh water free of risk-causing contaminants and promote productive, safe reuse of water, thereby enhancing human and environmental health conditions.